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Nobadays
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 01:00pm - Edited by: Nobadays
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Well we didn't think that through! Our land is all hillside so last spring we leveled an area below the cabin for a greenhouse... works great, looks good. Also installed 3 new PV panels below the deck that can be swept clear of snow so we can generate power when the rooftop panels are covered. They work great.... but....
We noticed in a big hail storm this summer that the hail slid off the deck roof, hit about a foot up on the 45* sloped panels and shot right into the side of the greenhouse. Dang! We knew this snow was coming so we screwed a sheet of plywood to the side of the greenhouse as protection against the snow coming off the roof. It worked but we had to shovel snow away this morning as there was a lot of weight against the greenhouse and all the snow has not yet come off the roof.
This stuff is wet and heavy and about 14" of it, Yuk! Probably the wettest snow we have seen up here in 3 winters... not the most but the wettest. I notice when it hits the panels they flex a little but being at 45* they deflect it quite easily.
Can't move the greenhouse so my other thoughts.... I'm thinking if I turn the panels landscape this will "shorten" them up by nearly 2', this would allow the snow to fall straight down to the ground and not shoot off the panels right into the greenhouse. We will still see a build up of snow behind the greenhouse but less pressure. Secondly, I'm going to remove the plywood off the back and screw 3, 2x4s full length across the back before reinstalling the plywood. This should greatly increase the amount of pressure the back of the greenhouse can stand.
BTW, the greenhouse is constructed on three 200 pound railroad ties pinned to the ground, plus 2'x10'x8" growing beds filled with soil are firmly attached to the ties. A lot of weight holding it in place. The 1 3/8" tubing frame is strengthened with 2x4s and plywood and the frame is attached to the ties by EMT hold downs. Extra pipe ribs were also installed in the roof and it supported 14" of snow no problem.
Any thoughts of simple solutions? We are SO, SO tired of building projects this season! The thought of building a new support and turning the panels is almost too much!
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 02:00pm
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Put snow fences on the roof so it won't slid off.
Hindsight is 20/20 but I would have told you from the get-go that both the panels and the greenhouse were in bad places if you have a roof sloped that way in snow country.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 02:50pm
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Your going to put major strain on your roof if you try to keep that snow up there. I have even seen commercial ladder style snow guards on standing seam metal roof rip off.
Sorry to tell you this but the best solution is prob to move the green house. If the snow off the roof is hitting the pannels and shooting out to the green house...turn the pannels 90*
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 02:58pm - Edited by: ICC
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Move the PV panels to a different location.... the other side of the greenhouse?
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 03:01pm
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Yeah.... not a great idea. However we are in a stand of aspens so the only opening for a greenhouse and cold frames are directly below the cabin... not ideal but unavoidable. No other place to move the greenhouse I'm afraid.
I thought about snow guards on the roof but the deck roof is too flat to begin with and already holds snow.... which holds back snow on the main roof.... which keeps snow on our roof mounted PV longer than it should. Kind of a Catch-22 the whole thing!
I think rotating the panels 90* will help. At least the snow will fall to the ground before sliding down to the greenhouse. Again, not ideal and occasionally shoveling out the snow may be required. The snow shooting off the panels and hitting the greenhouse is my biggest concern.
Thanks guys! Hope there is something I'm not thinking of...
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 03:35pm
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It's winter soon. Sun will be getting lower on the horizon. Hang the panels vertically off the porch railing.
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 04:02pm
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North... now that is a simple solution! If I can't muster the energy to rebuild the mount down below, that would work.
I still need to build a lean-to on my shed to park my Geo Tracker in this winter...., install new stove pipe, put snow guard steps up to the chimney and now, clean up all the down trees and limbs from this storm.... I'm tired of projects!
Of course when winter really sets in I'll be bored!
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scott100
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 07:51pm
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Move to South Carolina in the winter, like we did.
Would snow fence between the panels and the green house help? It might make for a huge pile there, but would probably protect the green house.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2020 09:20pm
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Our primary residence is in the mountains of AZ... get snow there too but jot like here! But... we love the winters up here.
Not sure I could get a snow fence to hold. Not too worried about damage to the greenhouse. If we beef up the plywood protection on the side I think it will be ok. Just going to have to move the panels do the snow can strike the ground first. Probably have to shovel once and awhile.
Thanks!
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rachelsdad
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2020 03:15am
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It's winter soon.
Looks like it already hit!
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